Claret seminary rector confident of ownership of disputed Quezon City land

Father Resty Audal. Chona Yu/990AM

MANILA, Philippines — The head of Claret seminary is confident that they are the rightful owners of part of a disputed property where the seminary currently stands.

In an interview with 990AM’s Chona Yu, Father Resty Audal, Claret seminary’s rector, said they have documents to prove that they are the legitimate owners of the land, which is part of a 24-ha property in Barangay (village) Culiat where the Maria Montessori school, other business establishments, and homes of some 3,000 residents stand.

The controversy stemmed from a claim by one Wilfredo Torres that he was the legitimate owner of the land and filed a petition before the Quezon City court to evict those presently occupying the property.

On Friday, the Court of Appeals granted a petition by residents for a restraining order on (TRO) the enforcement of the ruling by presiding QCRTC Branch 224 Judge Tita Marilyn Payuyo Villordon, which favored Torres.

Audal advised Judge Tita Marilyn Payuyo to consider the consequences of evicting the 48 seminarians and 20 professors of the Claret seminary, the students of Maria Montessori and residents of Culiat.

Audal said the seminary for one has been on the property for the last 25 years and they have not experienced any problems concerning ownership.

Prior to the appellate court’s ruling, Audal said they haven’t received a notice of eviction from Torres’ camp.